I rolled into my bed as soon as
I got into my room. I had faked of being tired and full of food and scurried to
room. In the same dress I lumped to bed. Unknowingly and unintentionally a fat
drop of tear streamed down the cheek. It was soaked into the pillow as I quilled
myself into a lifeless ball.
My phone buzzed in bag which I
had neglected on floor. I didn’t want to move, even an inch. It must be Preeti
again, in the mood to pull leg. I closed eyes tight shut, trying to forget and
just accept the truth that I’m safe and whatever happened that was just an
accident and could happen to anyone. Thanks to the eternity, Madhav was there
in time.
Madhav? Damn! He is waiting for
my call.
Before I decided to get up or
not my legs were out of the bed and running to the clumped bag on floor. My
instinct was correct.
“You reached home?”
There was this message on phone
and immediately trailed with another one.
“Are you there? Reached home
safely?”
The care and concern that was
enveloped with it felt like a punch on deep core. It filled me with guilt. He
did so much for me and I only hurt him in return.
I texted back. “Ya.
In home. Safe. Thank you.”
I wanted to write Be safe
too but I didn’t. I didn’t know whether it’s the perfect time to make any
advance.
About half an hour later, the
phone beeped in the silent room. I was wide-eyed till then, far away evaded
from sleeping.
“Still
awake”
Well! It was some question or
accusation. The unusual timing and correctness of his surmise was totally mismatching.
It felt like his eyes watching me from somewhere.
“Yeah. almost.”
“Awake? Good then.”
“Good?”
I rolled onto my back and shifted to lean
over headrest on the pile of pillows while punching the keys on phone.
“Good as I forgot to tell you
something. Ask what?”
Ask what? Why will I?
Again his message broke my
silent conversation with myself.
“Arey ask what?”
I rolled my eyes and messaged
back. “WHAT?”
“You looked awesome today. So
beautiful that it won’t be his fault if anyone chases after you. Even you were
a great distraction while driving. I had to be extra careful not to take any
wrong turn or hit anyone.”
A small smile finally
vanquished all the negativity and found its way to my face and stayed a long
time till another message banked in my phone.
“Can I call you?Plz.”
It was probably midnight and
the whole house was trapped in dead silence. Even I could hear the gruelling
hums of refrigerator downstairs or it was my heartbeat.
Without waiting for my answer,
my phone buzzed to noise or let’s say the ringtone that Preeti had set a few
days back. It startled me so much that I was almost there on the floor.
The phone fidgeted in my hands
for two more seconds till I found the correct button and pressed it.
“Hello.” I hissed as low as
possible.
“Hey. Sorry. It was impossible
to wait more for your answer.”
Answer? Was I expected for any answer? OH! Now I remember I was to
send yes or no. But what I was to say I had already forgotten.
All that centred in my mind right now was not to get caught talking with him.
“Again thinking?” He spoke. His
voice was like a lull.
“Hmm..nah. Just..”
“Your silence is lot better
than waiting for the messages.”
“Oh.”
“Seriously.” He sounded both cheesy
and truth. “That’s why I called you. Now you know at least someone with zero
patience.”
“But my papa says patience is
the most needed virtue.”
“Ah! What else does he say?”
His fun laced tone mocked me.
“He says many other things.”
“Like?”
“Like early to bed keep you and
your mind healthy.”
“Wow! Great.” His pretended as
if he didn’t know. Of course he knew it unless he didn’t go to kindergarten at
all and didn’t have to sing all those rhyme for thousand times.
“So it’s time to bed. Bye.
Goodnight.” I said.
“Hey..wait. What’s there to
hurry? Come on. It’s been just a few minutes. And half of the time you were
lost somewhere in thoughts.”
I checked the time. It was
twelve thirty. By this time, in general I was supposed to be firmly tucked in
bed. But this guy has stormed everything in and out. I was still ambivalent
about him, but my heart seemed on rivalry.
“Helloo..Again gone? At least
tell me where you get disappeared in middle. Sometimes it’s scary to have you
like this.”
“Umm..I was thinking.”
“Yeah.I know but what were you
thinking about? Or Who?” His sentence ended with a speculative mock.
“You.” The moment the word
slipped I regretted the most the in my life. I had no place to hide. Though it
was dark in my room, I was so much blushing out of embarrassment that just
wanted to creep under bed.
“Oho! About me. See! I’m
encroached in your mind too. Now it won’t take much time before your heart will
be after me.”
“Really?” I had to somehow make
up the situation. “I was thinking how my life has been drastically turned
upside down since the day you intruded into it.”
“That’s true.” He was barely
audible to me as if he was speaking for himself. “I’m the one.”
“I didn’t mean so.”
“Nah! You are right. I’m the
only one to put you into danger and believe me I’m never going to forgive
myself for plunging you into such danger. If I were not there you would have
never gone to that fucking place and we wouldn’t have to deal with them.”
And if he weren’t there we would
be lying torn and naked in some dark corner or road side or thrown into water.
I shuddered even on the thought of it. The whole thing was going to be real
just for my stupidity and how many times I have to repeat this to him.
The conversation was taking the
turn which I didn’t want it to go. But this was also the perfect chance to dig
out the exact matter.
“Maddy, what did you say to
them? I mean you were talking something really alien to us. What did you
exactly tell them?
“Nothing much. I just told them
that these girls are with me. So they better leave them.”
“Wow! And they obeyed you?”
“Hm. Then they asked who is
with you? I told them both. You are my girlfriend and Preeti is my sister.”
I sighed to lessen the intense
blow of gratitude I was feeling. This guy was slowly turning into some superhero
to me.
“And?”
“And I told them I know who
they are and it’s not a good place to put everything in danger just for two
girls.”
“You know them?”
“Not exactly. I just guessed.”
“But how?” I wondered, loudly.
There was silence from his
side. I thought the call was interrupted but he was silent as if he was lost in
thoughts, like me.
“Madhav, you there?”
“Hm.” He nodded.
“How do you know them?” The curiosity
inside me propelled to repeat the question without measuring the risk.
“You saw the tattoo on their
arms?”
I had totally forgotten to
register them into notice but they weren’t something anyone can ignore. They
were monstrous, scary and dark matching their piercing gaze. Their both arms
were inked with unreadable large motifs and letters.
“Those tattoos?”
“Yeah. Some certain cults bear those
tattoos. Those are mostly from other countries. They were from Spain.”
I was listening to him so
attentively that I forgot my usual nodding.
“Ava, you slept?”
“Ah? No..I was thinking.”
“What?” He demanded.
“I was just..nothing. Forget
it.”
“Ava. What were you thinking?” His
ice cold voice spoke.
“Just that..” I gulped down the
dry lump in throat. “How did you know how to deal with them and that also you
gave them so much money.”
“It’s fine Ava.” There was
heavy sigh from his side. “All that matters now that you are safe.”
“Hm.” I whispered.
“Ava.” That’s all he said
before taking a long pause.
“Huh?”
“Will you promise me that you
won’t ever do it again? No matter what
happens. Just never do it. Please.”
It was hard to think now as if
someone had clamped down all the ways through which thoughts travelled. I didn’t
know whether our relationship was that much strong and stable to exchange any
promise. I even didn’t know whether any relationship existed between us.
“Ava? You are again thinking?”
“Nah! I was just pondering over
the fact that..”
I shifted the conversation to
somewhere else. I very well sensed the somber things to come and I would have
no answer to them. So I repeatedly kept shifting topics, rambling about
nonsenses, talking about things that barely related any of us but just useful
to keep those broody things away. I rotated, turned, balled and flattened all
the topics I could till the words were lost to unconsciousness. All that I
remembered he was all awake till end.
In morning I woke up, lying
across the opposite side of my bed. Pillows were wriggled all around me and my
hairs were hanging from the edge of bed over my face. I looked someone who had undergone
exorcism. The phone was ringing on my side.
I picked up without looking
into the screen.
“Hey sleepyhead, Get up now.”
His musical voice breezed to my ear.
It was unmistakably Madhav’s
voice. “Hmm.Good morning.” I spoke lamely to him.
“Very good morning my
angel. Now get up. Won’t you go to college today? You have to submit your
assignment. Right?”
Angel? Huh! He has nickenamed
too. I appreciatively gave it a
tight smile, still half slept.
“Yeah. I’ll. But just five
minutes more.”
“Do you know the time?”
“Uuumm..” I looked at the watch
and it was ten minutes to seven. My whole body sprung into crouch.
“Calm down.”
“No. I have to run. I’ll talk
to you later.” I made plan within that. No
bath. Just change the cloth and run to bus.
“Wait. No need to hurry for
bus.”
“What are you saying? Preeti
will be here in any minute. I have to run.”
“No. Listen. You get ready.
I’ll pick you up today.”
“No. No you can’t.” I was
worried. What if anyone will see us at
college? I didn’t want to publicize
my relationship. Not at least now.
“Don’t worry and don’t argue. You
have exactly twenty minutes till I come to your stoppage. If you are not there,
I’ll get to your home.” His tones sounded like order of alpha male.
“No. It’s fine. I’ll come.”
“Then go and get ready. And
don’t forget to call Preeti. If she also wants to join, then she is welcome.”
“Okay. Bye.” I eneded the call
and hurried myself to bathroom with dialling to Preeti on phone.
Preeti received it. “Hey Ava.
I’m just at your door.”
“Stop.” I screamed and her feet
halted, I could hear it.
“What happened?” She sounded
worried.
“Nothing. Just..hmm... I just
got up now and I was to get ready for college bus but...Madhav said he can take
me to college. Soo..”
“Ohh..” Her Ohh.. was really long with an accused
note at the end. “So planning to go with boyfriend alone. Hm?”
“Nothing like that Preeti. I
said you that I got up late and I am late now. Still if you want I can get
ready for bus.”
“No need to.” She said it firm.
“I was just pulling your leg.”
“Hmm..No. Give me five minutes.
I’ll come with you.”
“No. You go with Maddy. No need
to rush for bus when you have such a handsome driver. ”
“Preeti.” I moaned.
She laughed wildly on phone.
“Okay. See you at college.”
“Listen. He said you can also
join us.”
“He said or you are saying to
console me for leaving alone?”
“No dear. I swear, he said it.”
“Fine. But I don’t want to ruin
your romance. I can manage alone. And it’s just about going to college. Isn’t
it?”
“Hmm.” I nodded. “Preeti?”
“Yeah.”
“Am I doing anything wrong?” I
asked her threatened.
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| Source-Google Image |
“No darling. You are not. You
are exactly what one should do when they are in love.” Her words assured me..
Love? Boyfriend? Isn’t too fast
to name all these stuff?
